Grande Prairie City Council has approved the 2026 Budget, balancing affordability and quality of life to support service delivery while preparing for a strong tomorrow.
Like many municipalities across Canada, Grande Prairie is facing challenging economic times alongside the needs of a growing community. The focus for the 2026 Budget is to invest in the services residents rely on while balancing future need.
The 2026 Budget introduces updates for efficiency and accountability to responsibly deliver all services, from the roads connecting people across the community, recreation facilities supporting active lifestyle, and emergency and social services that keep the community safe and connected.
"Affordability was top of mind for the 2026 Budget. Council approached this year with a clear understanding of community priorities and weighed a variety of options to reach a decision that provides reliable service delivery with future stability. We weighed every choice against the realities residents are experiencing today and focused on what would maintain essential services residents rely on; preserve Grande Prairie’s ability to attract investment and opportunity; and ensure our city remains a place where families and businesses can succeed.”
- Mayor Jackie Clayton
“Budgets translate strategy into outcomes. For a decade, the City has averaged a 1.18 per cent tax increase annually, one of the lowest among Alberta municipalities. That approach helped residents through uncertain economic periods, but inflation and increased costs in wages, utilities, construction, and contracted services now need a more sustainable path forward. The 2026 Budget maintains the services residents rely on and funds key projects that strengthen our regional role, support local activity, and ensure Grande Prairie remains a competitive and resilient centre.”
- Chief Financial Officer Danielle Whiteway
Budget 2026 Highlights
The 2026 Budget contains key investments aimed at improving the quality of life and fostering growth in Grande Prairie, with a focus on infrastructure, community services and economic development. Key highlights include:
- $165 million in building permit values indicating the highest housing activity in five years, with 2025 year-to-date starts nearly double 2024 levels
- $28.5 million for roads and infrastructure
- $540,000 for parks and amenities including projects such as urban forest groves and park furniture replacement
- $194,000 in total for snow and ice control service adjustments, including an added snow removal team
- $100,000 for attracting and retaining healthcare workers
What Homeowners Can Expect
Budget 2026 introduces a 4.34 per cent tax increase in total, comprised of 2.42 per cent for municipal operations and 1.92 per cent for the GPPS levy. For the average single-family dwelling, this represents approximately $12.00 per month. This increase will help address inflation, contractual obligations and revenue challenges, while maintaining the quality service delivery residents expect and positioning the City strongly for future growth.
Budget Engagement
The City of Grande Prairie hosted community engagement on the 2026 Budget from May to July 2025, gathering input from residents on their priorities for City projects, programs and services. The engagement saw 848 visitors explore the online tools and 519 people attend the in-person events. The full report on the engagement is available at: engage.cityofgp.com/budget2026.
The full budget will be available at cityofgp.com/budget following ratification.